INDIANAPOLIS – Take comfort Purdue fans, that impressive 29-point win in October kept Ohio State out of the College Football Playoff.

Despite the Buckeyes winning another Big Ten championship Saturday night – pulling away to beat Northwestern 45-24 at Lucas Oil Stadium – that one loss was more than enough to prevent them from playing for a national championship.

Part of Ohio State’s omission from the four-team playoff was its own doing, but Alabama, Clemson and Notre Dame didn’t lose all season. The Buckeyes did, thanks to the Boilermakers administrating a beatdown.

Oklahoma, which was No. 4 spot following Georgia’s loss to the Crimson Tide, suffered its only setback against a ranked Texas team in the Red River Shootout and avenged that loss Saturday to win the Big 12 championship.

The only debate is whether Georgia has enough support from the committee to stay in the top four compared to the Sooners, who feature plenty of offense but can’t stop anybody.

OSU’s loss to Purdue was viewed as more damaging to the Buckeyes’ chances of climbing back into the playoff picture after sitting at No. 2 before visiting Ross-Ade Stadium on that October night.

It was a big highlight from the Boilermakers’ season. It was certainly the lowlight of Ohio State’s. The Buckeyes, though, have a case. They were 5-0 against ranked teams, including throttling the nation's best defense in Michigan and emerged as the best team in the Big Ten.

In fact, the debate wasn't really close. The Buckeyes were No. 6 in Sunday's College Football Playoff rankings.

But don’t feel sorry for the Buckeyes. They should be headed to Pasadena and the Rose Bowl to face Washington, which won the Pac-12 championship on Friday.

Ohio State is also Big Ten champions for the second straight year and for the 37th time in program history.

Three reasons why the Buckeyes defeated the Wildcats

THE QB

His name is Dwayne Haskins. He’s been the real deal all season. He can move. He can throw. He can run and throw at the same time and his offensive line gave him time all night.

Ohio State wide receiver Johnnie Dixon (1) celebrates a touchdown during the second half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Northwestern, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)(Photo: The Associated Press)

Haskins used his legs to move the pocket and his arm to produce big plays. The result was a spectacular showing before a crowd of 66,375 and a national television audience.

The numbers? Try 34 of 41 for a Big Ten championship game record 499 yards and tied the mark with five touchdowns. He connected with four different receivers on the TD passes, including a pair to Indianapolis native and Cathedral graduate Terry McLaurin.

The previous title game record? Held by Penn State's Trace McSorley, who threw for 384 yards in 2016.

His 63-yard fourth-quarter pass to Johnnie Dixon was a throw a lot of NFL quarterbacks can’t make. Haskins’ arm strength on that one play was worth the price of admission. Dixon caught seven passes for 129 yards.

Will Haskins’ record-setting performance sway any late Heisman voters, especially when Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa struggled in the Southeastern Conference title game against Georgia and left with an ankle injury?

THIRD-DOWN SUCCESS

The Buckeyes were more than efficient.

They were 10 of 18 on third down facing an average of 8.3 yards on each attempt. Think about that for a second. Ohio State averaged 10.1 yards on each third down conversion, recovering from penalties and negative plays.

And how about this – Haskins was 13 of 14 passing on third down for 176 yards. The Wildcats simply couldn’t get off the field when it counted.

BRINGING PRESSURE

The defensive line was relentless, and when Ohio State built a lead it came after quarterback Clayton Thorson.

The Buckeyes registered five sacks, including three by defensive end Chase Young. Dre’Mont Young and Taron Vincent also had sacks as Ohio State kept its eye on Thorson, whose lack of mobility allowed the Buckeyes to come after him.

Northwestern's John Moten IV raced 77 yards for a first-quarter touchdown but the Wildcats didn't manage a lot of production on the ground. They gained 74 yards outside of the one big play.